Erin Casey

Where I Stand: Hope Heals

Prevention and Intervention of Mental Illness through awareness, education and hope.

We are your people. We stand with you. ♥ Erin Casey – Founder & President Email: caseyee90@gmail.com More than anything in the world I believe that the light is stronger than the dark. This passion has launched me into spreading awareness about mental health, reducing stigma, advocating individuals who struggle to find their voice both […]

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Recovery is hard work 24 hours a day, seven days per week… Regardless of whether you are seeking inpatient, residential, outpatient treatment or suffering silently in your day-to-day, we are here for you. One of the biggest ways I was comforted through my recovery journey was through receiving snail-mail filled with encouragement and hope. I received […]

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Latest Posts from Where I Stand Bloggers and Advocates

By: Rachel Moreland, Where I Stand Blogger and Advocate I live in a culture that tells me to suck it up. Keep calm and carry on. Keep a stiff upper lip. Insert whatever stereotypical cliché phrase you want. The Scots love the phrase, “Just get on with it”. Sometimes I am baffled over this kind […]

I went home recently. Home home. You know, back to my childhood home. It didn’t go as I’d hoped it would. Not at all actually. The plan was to be there for two weeks and well, I lasted 4 days. Whenever I plan a trip home I always imagine days filled with rest and relaxation […]

Guest blog post by: Julia Snyder, age 17 I don’t understand it. Any of it. They say keep trying until things get better or work out, but what if they never do? How can I keep on going if it feels as though everyone keeps pushing me backward again and again until I end up […]

By: Caroline Owens, Where I Stand Blogger and Advocate I will admit that at times I am my own worst enemy. I criticize myself more than anyone should, and when I do I always try to remember this one quote. “If you talked to your friends the way you talked to your body, you’d have […]

By: Lizzie E., Where I Stand Blogger and Advocate This morning, Facebook decided to remind me of this day three years ago. In the picture I saw some version of myself smiling for the camera – blues eyes, long curly brown hair, coffee in hand. That’s me, right? Technically, yes, I guess it is, but […]

Testimonials

Thank you so much for sharing! I just finished my first year of grad school and I am in recovery as well. I struggled the whole way because I was not taking proper of myself. These lessons are invaluable to me!

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Oh, Caroline!! You are so brave and so strong. You inspire me with my struggle … only opposite – my addiction to food. I cling to a scripture in God’s Word found in Deuteronomy 20:1-4: “When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you. When you are about to engage in battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army. He is to say to them: ‘Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be cowardly. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’ ” This verse helps me to believe that God is the one who goes before me and fights my demons for me. I hope this brings you even more strength. Love you!!

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I am so proud of you Caroline…I work with people with mental illness everyday, have people in my family struggling with addiction and depression. Thank you for speaking out for all of us.

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This is so great. I’ve never read something from the “recovered” voice. We should get this out to more people!!! Beautiful. Thanks for writing.

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I relate to you soooo much. Thank you for sharing. We must remember that we are beautiful and that we deserve to wear our “beautiful self” clothes no matter how we feel. XO

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Hey lovely Erin. I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work you do to help us help ourselves. The purple fighters ED group has been absolutely priceless and communicating and getting to know other people with the same ways of thinking of me has been so valuable. It’s so inspiring how you’ve taken something horrible that happened to you and turned it round to something so inspiring for people all around the world. I’m hoping to be a counsellor so I can give back to the community that has given me so much, and that gives me a sense of purpose which I’m sure Where I Stand gives you. So before I ramble anymore, thank you, thank you, thank you! You are a truly beautiful person and have changed so many lives.

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You’re one of the strongest women i know and i truly respect and appreciate all that you’ve done to spread awareness of a disease we’ve both battled for a good part of our lives. You’re an inspiration to myself & so many others and i hope you know how many lives you’ve touched along your road to recovery. Best of luck & endless amounts of prayers and love to you as you continue your journey! Thank YOU! – JH

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Erin – This is so beautiful. I’m so proud of you. Your section called “dealing with food” pulled tears. I’m pretty certain that every girl, to varying degrees, deals with serious issues with self image. Culture makes out like what we look like is the only thing that gives us value and for all the @$$ holes out there that think that’s true, that’s too bad for them – because they are blind to and are missing out on what really counts in life and they’ll never experience the joy that comes with seeing someone as fully human. I know I have delt with self image for sure and I still have my days. I have had to turn mirrors around. I’m glad you’re not ashamed to be fighting this out loud because God only knows how many women’s lives you’ll touch and inspire through your story. You’re definitely not the only one struggling. I love you so much. -K

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Thank you SOOOOO much for sharing this with us!!!! What an amazing post that all of society should see and act on. Do you mind if we post this to our page??”— Rebecca’s House Treatment Center

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Wonderful blog! I took a screenshot of the blog so they could see some text. I hope you like how we shared it. I think it will help people click through! Namaste! – Mirasol Eating Disorder Recovery Center

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Also want to let you know how proud of you I am for all of your work on Where I Stand. I’m following you guys. Very inspiring! So glad you are willing to SAY IT. It will help so many people. – JG

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I think you saved my life. – SN

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I read Erin’s story today and think that it is so inspiring what you are doing to shed the stigma of mental illness after going through your own struggles. I just SO wish this organization was going when I was a student at JMU because I totally would have joined. anyways…. — LN

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I loved what you said in class. Mental illness is just like a medical condition. We would treat the medical condition but then people place a stigma on others who are treated for mental illnesses. EMU has taught me so much to think outside of the box, attempt to remove labels and treat the client as a person. – MS

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I know this is random, and you may not remember me, but we were in Arizona together. I think it’s really amazing what you have done, and how much you have grown. This thing you’re doing has really put some hope in my head and I truley appreciate and love love love! How much you have done to support this disease. I just wanted to say thank you, for being a candle in a world of darkness. – M

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Hey! I just wanted to tell you thank you for your inspirational posts. I suffer from PTSD, and panic disorder, serving in Iraq. You give me hope through your posts. Thank you.

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I follow you on Facebook. I don’t know the whole history of your journey. And. I want you to know I think you are amazing. Keep being the light you want there to be in the world. With love. – S

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I just wanted to say thanks for all you do for Where I Stand! Its always amazing to see others so dedicated to helping others in need. It is my passion and dream to be a motivational speaker and to help others just like you and lizzie do. I would love to do what you both do – BP

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I’ve been reading your posts on your page and Where I Stand for a while and have wanted to reach out sooner but insecurity and self-doubt kept holding me back. You may have seen me comment on things here or there, and then again maybe you haven’t…but I wanted to introduce myself and thank you for your authenticity and the information you share with the world. I particularly want to thank you for one of your latest posts on the multicausal nature of eating disorders. I have personally struggled with an eating disorder for a long time, with many ups and downs, and the last several years being some of the hardest of my life. I am also blind. I don’t see the pictures in magazines and images in the movies, but hearing about them, hearing constant food and diet and exercise talk, etc., are enough to affect what I think I should look like or how I think I should eat or live. With that said, those things are not the cause of my eating disorder. As I have learned through therapy and treatment, the causes run much, much deeper, and they are varied and complex. I know you know this, and I just want to thank you for helping to bring awareness to this issue. I know I don’t know you well, but from what I can see, you continue to work on yourself, and continue to move forward in your own healing journey, and it looks like you are at a point where you are going to school and clearly making a difference in the lives of others. These are goals that I have for myself too….. – S

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Hey Erin! I hope you are doing well. I just wanted to share with you how much I LOVE Purple Love, and how happy I am for you / proud I am for you for what a success Where I Stand has become. You have followed your passion and have done amazing, inspiring work. Some of my friends from treatment a few years back who live in a total different part of the country were talking about the page, and I felt very honored to be able to say I knew the person who helped get it off the ground – YOU! Thank you for the very important work you are doing. – SG

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I joined a while ago. I don’t know where to go or where to run some days I tried everywhere to get help no one listens. I find Where I Stand page comforting. To know that I’m not alone. Even if everyone makes me feel like it x – BE

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Where I Stand is amazing, it has inspired me to talk openly about my recovery. – AA

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I just want to say thank you for all the inspirational things you post along with all the helpful advice, it has help give me strength when I felt like I couldn’t go on. – JA

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“I don’t know you, haven’t met you and probably never will. But I needed to tell you that last year my best friend wordlessly sent me a link to the purple love campaign. She was at the time the only one who knew about my disorder. I have been so inspired by you and Where I Stand, and I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart. My mom suffered for years, and I suppose that insecurity was passed onto me. But at 21, I’m really starting to find things about myself that are beautiful, and I know one day I will be able to proudly say I recovered. That day may be soon, or a while away, but finding Where I Stand was my first step. Thank you so much.” – AL

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Thank you for sharing this. This is what people need to hear, because hearing this can help someone SEE what depression is. – NM

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When I first joined the purple fighter eating disorder recovery group I was leary…why would I open up to a bunch of facelss strangers? But somewhere along the way these faceless strangers started showing their hearts…and they were beautiful, smart, whitty, raw, honest!!!!! These hearts were giving me advice, encouragement, the push needed to make it through that moment or day or week!! The girls have become my friends with never even have met them! How has “where I stand” impacted my life? I guess an easier question to answer would be how hasn’t it! Much LOVE!!! — Purple Fighter

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Where I Stand has helped me through my recovery process and the support group has always picked me up if I started to slip. I’m 9 months ed free now and on top of my other mental illnesses – Purple Fighter

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Where I Stand had made me know I’m not alone. I have fought ED privately for so long, it’s a relief to see that other people understand and have emerged victorious from the battle. ~ PurpleLoveIsTheWay

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I can’t speak highly enough of the purple fighters facebook group. It’s amazing having support like that from people who know exactly what I’m going through. I also love the purple love campaign because it’s so inspiring to read everyone’s stories

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Where I Stand has helped me by allowing me to express myself through blogging and by helping me know that I am being of service to others. I love knowing that others find comfort in what I write and in what all those who volunteer for WIS write, post, etc. I love the team of people that I have the privilege of volunteering with through Where I Stand. This is truly an amazing organization and I’m proud to be a part of it.

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I have gotten great support. Letters to get me through and the courage to seek help. I don’t feel do alone anymore. The people who run it and who support others are inspiring. It shows me that one day I can get through this and recover…:)

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Where I Stand has inspired me to share my story.

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Where I Stand is a place that I can turn to on a good day and on a bad. Recovering from an eating disorder has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. And this journey is far from over so it’s nice to know I always have Where I Stand for encouragement. I have struggled with an eating disorder for over a year now, and no one except my parents and roommates knew about it. After seeing the amazing empowerment the people posting in Where I Stand had, I decided to help end the stigma and admit to my ED, as well as accept myself and regain control of my life.

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Where I Stand is the only site I found and regularly visit that is soo positive. I have been helped tremendously by this group and didn’t feel alone or crazy!!! Others had been there also. I have now let go of the ed after a little over 25 years, full recover is possible, I love these ladies. Mostly, Erin you have meant so much to me thank you!!! ♥

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This for me has been by far the most supportive empowering recovery based eating disorder websites. This is one of the only I keep up with anymore. The support is amazing and everyone involved is and has been amazing. I hope this site and The Purple Love Campaign continue to be able to be as wonderful as they are today

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If it wasn’t for Where I Stand I don’t think I would have made it this far, thank you:)

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I Love Where I Stand! Always get what I need …very uplifting!

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One of my clients told me about this organization, and how it has positively impacted her recovery from ED. I was so deeply inclined to come check it out, and this organization is so positive, and incredible. Keep up the wonderful work. You are changing the world!

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Where I Stand helped my daughter be less isolated and be more understood when some of her friends read what she had written. Also, someone who read her testimonial said it had inspired them to get help. So it has been a great help. Thank you.

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I had been in my eating disorder since I was eight and struggling with how to grasp on to recovery for the past few years when I came across Where I Stand during the Purple Love Campaign. With Erin’s kind words and the support from others in the group I have finally found a latch and made my way into recovery. I have hope, strength, and a new outlook that I want others to experience! ~JR